Honda has showcased the new RA626H power unit for F1 competition and announced a collaboration with the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One team.
On 26 Jan 2026 GMT+7, Toshihiro Mibe, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co., stated that looking back to 1964, the year Honda began selling cars, the company took on a major challenge by entering F1, the world’s premier racing series.
Despite facing many challenges, Honda achieved its first F1 victory in its second year at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix. From the mid-1980s to the early 1990s, Honda enjoyed a golden era partnering with legendary teams like Williams and McLaren, continuously making historic moments.
Most recently, Honda won the drivers’ world championship with Red Bull Racing, demonstrating its commitment to pushing speed and automotive innovation. Competing in F1, the pinnacle of motorsport and automotive engineering, reflects the spirit and determination of company founder Soichiro Honda and inspires Honda’s engineers.
Honda’s pursuit to be number one globally involves boldly facing the toughest challenges, a philosophy that remains a core foundation for the company, undeterred by difficulties and always choosing the most demanding path.
For 2026, F1 will introduce major regulatory changes affecting chassis structure and power units. Electrical output from motors and batteries will nearly triple, and engines must use sustainable fuels with advanced, environmentally friendly technology, reducing pollution and promoting eco-friendliness.
This marks F1’s evolution into a future-focused motorsport facing challenges of electric power integration and carbon neutrality. Budget controls require each power unit manufacturer to maximize development efficiency and resource utilization to achieve optimal results.
Under this new F1 era, Honda aims to make F1 a symbol of innovation and challenge. Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), Honda’s global motorsport division, has developed the RA626H power unit for the 2026 season. Honda will continue to confront all challenges alongside the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One team with the goal of becoming world number one.
Introducing the new H Mark logo design and building on HRC’s expertise.
Cars equipped with the RA626H power unit will feature the new H Mark logo, symbolizing Honda’s automotive business driving toward the future. This logo will appear on F1 cars and other Honda motorsport vehicles, including planned use in IndyCar, Super GT, Super Formula Championship, and Super Taikyu Series.
Additionally, Honda will apply the technology and knowledge accumulated by HRC from F1 and other motorsport competitions to develop HRC-spec vehicles offering superior driving performance, strengthening Honda’s automotive business through motorsport activities.
By launching HRC-spec vehicles—including production models developed from prototypes like the Civic Type R HRC Concept—Honda will give customers the experience of driving enjoyment and the spirit of Honda’s challenge.
Honda views F1 not only as a global racing event but also as a platform for personnel development. Engineers trained intensively in world-class competition bring their experience to develop production cars, creating vehicles that provide greater joy and inspiration to customers.
Applying and extending F1 technology toward future mobility.
Honda has leveraged advanced F1 technologies such as high-efficiency combustion, thermal management, high rotational speed engines—including high-power motors and large turbochargers—and sustainable fuel technologies. These are applied not only to next-generation HEVs and EVs but also extend to Honda’s airborne travel products like eVTOLs and aircraft engines.
Honda’s expertise in sustainable fuels is advancing the development of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) and fuels for eVTOL propulsion currently under development. Technologies for high-speed rotating parts such as turbochargers and motors are shared between aircraft engine engineers and F1 power unit developers, enhancing innovation through practical use both on the track and in the air, creating a synergy that propels Honda’s technology forward.
Honda will use F1 technology as a starting point to drive innovations for vehicles across land, sea, air, and space, contributing to propulsion technology development and realizing a sustainable society.
Lawrence Stroll, CEO of the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One team, said it is an honor to visit Japan to celebrate the new partnership. Aston Martin Aramco Formula One and Honda share aligned values, forming a strong commitment toward the 2026 season and ongoing sustainable success.
The new Aston Martin Technology Centre in Silverstone, UK, has been completed, strengthening the organization like never before. Its new wind tunnel is a key innovation for car development, alongside a data center under construction to elevate team capabilities. The team is dedicated to breaking limits and working relentlessly with future success as their core objective.
The Aston Martin Aramco Formula One team is becoming a full factory partner with Honda. Chassis and power units will be designed and integrated as one, a crucial strategy in their quest for the world championship.
The team is also proud to collaborate with Aramco as its sustainable fuel sponsor and Valvoline as lubricant product sponsor for the first time. These strong partnerships are central to success. The team thanks Honda, Aramco, and Valvoline for sharing their vision and working together with full commitment.
Close cooperation between the team’s UK base and Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) Sakura in Japan has developed into a strong partnership with key elements for victory. Team drivers also have confidence in Honda’s power units and engineering team.
Meanwhile, Andy Cowell’s appointment as Chief Strategy Officer reflects unified teamwork. His world-class expertise will be a key driver for the team’s steady progress.
Fans of the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One team in Japan are invited to join this important journey toward victory. With Honda’s collaboration, the team is fully committed to winning and making new history together. It is exciting to share this journey with everyone and the team thanks all supporters for their continued encouragement.
Stefano Domenicali, Formula 1 Chairman and CEO, said the major 2026 regulation reform was a key factor attracting Honda’s return. The new rules overhaul chassis and power unit structures—the biggest change in F1 history. The highlight is a simplified hybrid engine powered by sustainable fuels, maintaining powerful and excellent driving performance.
F1 reflects Honda and Aston Martin Aramco Formula One’s commitment to sustainability. They are working toward net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. In 2024, carbon emissions were reduced by 26% compared to 2018. F1 welcomes new innovations and continues close collaboration with partners like Honda to push limits and raise motorsport standards.